The Islanders (53 pts) sit one point ahead of the Bruins (52 pts) for 7th place in the Eastern Conference, so there is no doubt that this game will be nothing short of exciting. Moving into the All Star break, this game could potentially be a tie breaker down the line when the season winds down. It is also important in terms of momentum, because of the break - it’s always good to head into it off a pair of big wins.

This is also a big night for the Rangers (GASP!), because they sit two points back of the Islanders looking up towards the teams above them. Tonight the Rangers face Atlanta for the second straight game - and it’s a night featuring the retirement of Leetch’s jersey so they should be pumped up. Should the Islanders win and the Rangers lose - there is MORE space put between their biggest conference rival, if they lose - they will be tied for 8th.

First Period

7:09 PM First period under way!
7:10 PM Islanders going right on the power play, Kessel for hooking off a faceoff.
7:12 PM A very confident shot by our newest scoring machine - Witt, gives Thomas trouble. Power play over - 0/1
7:18 PM Sutton looking confident tonight - defensively and jumping in offensively!
7:23 PM As I have a mouthful of the pizza I just whipped up, Bergeron gets called for interference.
7:24 PM Puck almost trickles in, they push it back out and DiPietro gets screened - 1-0 Bruins
7:25 PM Well….we know who is fired up tonight - Bad defensive pinch, Bruins lead 2-0
7:34 PM I know the secret to heating up the Islanders - HOT SAUCE. I mixed in a bit of Mad Dog 357 with the pizza sauce……anyways, congrats are in order to Richard Park for his 500th career game!

7:38 PM Some good pressure by the Hunter,Tank, Sillinger line - Sillinger pushes it over the net.
7:40 PM Satan picks up a loose puck and gets off a good shot, nobody home for the rebound
7:43 PM Comeau is playing some great hockey - he has so much confidence tonight.

Well, that certainly didn’t go as planed! The Islanders found themselves outworked, out hustled and quite simply - out played. This team continues to puzzle me because they fail to show up on most nights. It’s not that they are playing completely horrible - but to be on the losing end of a two to nothing deficit in the first period of an important road game is unacceptable in my eyes. Where is the intensity, the drive, the passion? This team is supposed to be a hard working team - I just don’t know if that description fits their play tonight. There are still 40 minutes of hockey left, let’s hope the master motivator gets the team back in the game during the second period.

Second Period

8:05 PM Sutton hit the post!
8:12 PM Savard caught Comrie up high - Isles power play upcoming
8:16 PM 0/2 on the power play - Savard scored from an impossible angle - 3-0 Boston
8:21 PM Thomas putting on a clinic tonight - outstanding saves here tonight.

8:25PM Comeau draws a tripping penalty after a series of nifty stick handling moves while breaking through the neutral zone. This guy needs to get more ice time.

8:29 PM Pathetic effort on the power play - they look lethargic. 0/3
8:30 PM Sutton called for holding….and thus the self destruction begins.
8:31 PM Just as the Bruins power play begins, it ends - Kessel on the power play makes it 4-0
8:32 PM How bad is it, when you cannot put the puck in an open net? TWICE! I am about to turn this game off.
8:34 PM 1 minute left in this tragedy of a second period

Pucks into skates, sticks, shin pads, side of the net, wide, high, out of play, anywhere BUT into the net or anywhere near the Bruins goaltender at times. I am absolutely sick and tired of this on again off again effort - there is absolutely no consistency with this team. I know the sky isn’t falling - but management needs to do something to shake up this roster. Where is everyone? Our star players aren’t performing and our fourth line is the only one consistently doing anything.

I know I sound negative, I love the Islanders - I do. I just cannot bear to watch this kind of hockey…..it is quite simply - PATHETIC.

Third Period

9:01 PM Sillinger with a sizzler makes it 4-1 Boston
9:10 PM I am fighting passing out because I had a long day - but the overall poor play isn’t helping matter much. Blind passes, poor positional hockey…..Comrie just being lazy - what else is new?

9:14 PM Hunter tackled breaking into the zone, no call.
9:15 PM Best news of the whole night - Atlanta is ahead of the Rangers 1-0
9:16 PM Vasicek looked like he was going to kiss Krejci there……

And Boston wins 4-2 - thank god they have a few days off, I will allow this to sink in and me to cool down from being so annoyed. Level-headed recap tomorrow.

So I had a whole game post here….and I somehow lost it. Don’t know what happened…..

Not happy right now.

What did I like about the game? A bunch - three shorthanded goals - two on the same penalty kill. Lots of breakaways, a great Bergenheim goal, Witt’s second of the season and a hard working Comeau empty net goal. For a while I was calling our penalty kills the Power Kill….to recap Park scored shorthanded, Sillinger twice - almost thrice!

I had a bad feeling when the Canes made it 4-3, but Dubie played very solid and the team managed to pull out a win - eventually getting an insurance goal and then the empty net goal. The Islanders really capitalized on all of the chances tonight, I think they had like 4 breakaway goals tonight - this team rarely gets one let alone 4 in a single game. Penalties continue to be a problem, however the penalty kill was effective (you could say that…) at killing off most, only allowing one power play goal against.

This was a really important night, the Devils and Rangers both won - so we continue to hold a two point lead on the Rangers.

The team must have taken what they learned yesterday afternoon and grown from it - because they certainly never gave up tonight. It was good to see that they stuck to their guns and kept the pressure on.

Great game boys! Keep the ball rolling into Boston and take those to points too!

Not really what I was expecting today, but news is news - especially when it is GOOD news! The Islanders have announced that they have signed Journeyman defensman Freddy Meyer IV to a two year contract extension.

Per the Islanders Website:

The Islanders have signed defenseman Freddy Meyer to a two-year contract extension through the 2009-2010 NHL season.

In recent weeks, Meyer has filled in more than capably on the blue line when Radek Martinek, Brendan Witt and Chris Campoli were sidelined with injuries and he has emerged as a regular on the Islanders defense, often playing more than 20 minutes a game. Earlier this season, Meyer was lost on waivers to Phoenix but was reacquired by the Islanders when the Coyotes tried to put him through re-entry waivers.

“Freddy has earned this contract extension with his talent, work ethic and perseverance,” said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. “He has been through a lot this season, but his attitude never wavered. He is a solid defenseman in all aspects of the game and we’re pleased he has made a commitment to us for two more seasons beyond this year.”

Meyer joins fellow D-man Radek Martinek and winger Richard Park who have also received contract extensions earlier in the season. I think this is a great move, because Meyer has stepped up his play and filled in nicely. Even in his limited role earlier in the season, he stepped up and made that smooth pass of hard hit - which is something we have come to love out of Meyer. Kudos to Snow for locking him up, but much like the trade of Bootland - does this open up the door for something bigger? Has the team determined that someone is now expendable? Time will tell I guess, this organization is watertight when it comes to it’s plans.

Update! 5:10PM

It appears that Islander Mania is reporting that Campoli will be undergoing season ending shoulder surgery and that Meyer’s extension is the result of that development. Nothing concrete yet - but I will check some sources.

CONFIRMED PER ISLANDERS INSIDER

CAMPOLI’S SEASON IS OVER
Chris Campoli, one of the Islanders’ top young defensemen, will have shoulder surgery on Thursday and will be out for the remainder of the 2007-08 season

Defenseman Chris Campoli will have shoulder surgery on Thursday and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2007-08 NHL season.

The 23-year old defenseman will have his surgery performed at the Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Anthony Miniaci, the head team physician of the Cleveland Browns. Dr. Maniaci was a prime consultant for the National Hockey League Players Association for many years and continues to evaluate and operate on many NHL players at the Cleveland Clinic.

The 6-0, 200-pound Campoli played 46 games for the Islanders this season, his third with the team after being selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NHL Draft. He had 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points this season. In 177 NHL games, the Ontario native is 14-52-66.

“It’s a tough break for Chris. He’s been such a good player and he’s shown a lot of heart this season while battling the injury,” said Islanders head coach Ted Nolan. “The good news is that he will be under the best medical care and he has so many good years ahead of him. With Chris out, an opportunity opens up for someone to take advantage of. Thankfully, we had depth at the start of the season with at least 9 quality NHL defensemen. You can never have enough of them.”

Earlier today, defenseman Freddy Meyer was signed to a two-year contract extension through 2009-2010.

In what could prove to be a huge boost to a struggling defense, injured anchormen Brendan Witt and Radek Martinek are both set to return from injuries this afternoon for a MLK Day matinée. Not that the defense has been horrible - but they have been severely lacking in size, with Andy Sutton being our only d-man who is on the topside of 200 pounds and over 6 foot tall. With the loss of Campoli while Witt and Martinek were out - players such as Meyer, Gervais, Bergeron and Johnson were forced to play extended minutes and did an exceptional job all things considered.

Per Newsday:

Witt, who missed four games with a sprained ankle, and Martinek, who was sidelined for almost a month with an injured lower leg, have been sorely missed. The Islanders have played the past four games without both, and with the shoulder injury suffered by defenseman Chris Campoli Wednesday night against the Devils, the team has been down to six healthy defensemen. The Islanders had to rely on Freddy Meyer, whom they had released and reclaimed on waivers, and Aaron Johnson, who finished a brief conditioning stint in Bridgeport after being out 2½ months with a knee injury.

When you have guys like Witt and Martinek in the lineup, they help solidify a complete defensive core. Guys like Meyer, Gervais, Bergeron and Campoli are young - smooth skaters who can jump in offensively and guys like Witt, Martinek, and Sutton are solid veterans who aren’t shy of physical play. They use their bodies to do everything in their power to prevent shots and passes from getting through, which was something the team sorely missed against the Flyers.

Moving into this afternoons game against Carolina - the front half of a rare home and home series, it is an extremely important game and a very valuable 4 points up for grabs. New Jersey defeated Toronto last night, the Flyers topped the Senators yesterday afternoon and Boston jumped ahead also defeating the Rangers 3-1. If the Islanders wish to keep their playoff hopes alive, they need to capitalize and play their game against the Canes. Hopefully the return of Witt and Marty elevate the play of their teammates.

As I said I would, I uploaded the photos from the Flyers game, check out the gallery for the new photos. I will be at the game this afternoon - and I will likely make it over to the Blog Box for the 3rd period. Look for some updates from the game!

The night began like most nights, a chill in the air and a long walk across the parking lot at the Coliseum. Once inside - despite being early to ensure a bobble head, you could tell that the night would be a sellout. Why wouldn’t it be? It was a Saturday game and also Town of Hempstead night - one of the many nights this season where residents of the particular town get reduced admission.

Did you know this about the Town of Hempstead?

It is comparable in population to San Francisco or Jacksonville. It is significantly larger and more populous than Boston, Baltimore, or Seattle. It occupies the southwest part of the county. If it were a city, it would be the 14th most populous city in the nation, just above San Francisco, California. In terms, of land area, it would rank number 67th among US cities.

The other reason for the sellout; the Philadelphia Flyers were in town who were only 3 points ahead in the standings - so there was a large contingent of out of state fans at the barn. If there was ever an important game - it was tonight. Divisional games at this stage of the season are ALWAYS 4 point nights - ask any of the players and they are aware of that. So what was the problem tonight?

The game started and the Park was called for a borderline tripping call, it didn’t take Philadelphia long to score on the power play, given they have the leagues best power play and all. However, Richard would redeem himself not long after while on a breakaway. The game was tied….but not for long.

Philadelphia began a parade to the penalty box and Bill Guerin would score on the power play. 2-1 Isles, the team was chugging away out shooting the Flyers by a very big margin - so much so that the Flyers elected to take an early timeout. Josef Vasicek would score next, while parked in front of Biron to make it 3-1. Scottie Upshall would then trip DiPietro later in the period and receive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing the call towards the end of the period. The Isles could not score with the time left, so the power play carried over to the second period. The Flyers killed off the remainder of the double minor and from then on the Islanders were outplayed in just about every aspect of the game.

One of the biggest things that I noticed was a reluctance to shoot the puck. There would be prime chances while someone was in front of the net, and they would elect to pass almost every time. It was driving me crazy watching a team that outplayed the visiting team in the first period, to play the complete opposite 20 minutes later. Since the Blog Box began, I have NEVER asked Ted Nolan a question - I have my reasons for not doing so - but they were more nerves than anything else. Tonight, there was a very long lull in the questioning from the media - so I jumped in with the beauty:

“Did you feel there was a reluctance to shoot tonight?”

As the coach was answering me, I noticed Mark Herrmann of Newsday jotting down a bunch of notes - I could tell I asked a good question because Ted had a very long answer. When I got home tonight, I was extremely surprised to see the answer to my question as the lead quote in Herrmann’s article for tomorrow’s paper. Here is the quote and link to the online story:

“A reluctance to shoot, a reluctance to back check, a reluctance to chip it in,” Ted Nolan said after his team turned its early lead into a 5-3 loss Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum. “It was just a total team fall-apart.”

I could go on for hours about what the Islanders did or did not do tonight - but it’s not necessary. Instead I will direct you to some of my fellow Blog Box bloggers - who have also given their take on what transpired tonight. 7thwoman has an excellent perspective on the game, Tom Liodice of The Tiger Track did an excellent job live blogging like he always does, as did B.D. Gallof of Hockeybuzz. I am sure the other bloggers will update at some point between tonight and tommorow - I will update as they give their take.

If I learned anything tonight, it was that the Islanders have somewhat of an identity problem - as if they are uncomfortable in their own skin and that I should really ask more questions. I guess I do know what I am talking about after all.

Procrastination is a funny thing, what some push aside to the “unimportant” or “it can wait” piles - eventually needs to get done at some point. Not that the photos I have taken aren’t important - but I have been really busy with work lately and add in the “Holidays” excuse before that.

Once I realized just HOW MANY photos I needed to sort through and get uploaded - I almost lost it. I just finished sorting through close to 1000 photos and uploaded the “keepers”. Not every photo I take (or any other photographer) will make the final cut. A majority of the time, because hockey is so fast paced the photos will come out blurred or there will be a spectator right in the way of the action. These photos don’t need to be posted, so thus the importance of picking through the pile of digital photos.

Below you can find the list of games and links to the respective game albums:

Dallas 11/26/07
Ottawa 11/28/07
Thrashers 12/01/07
Bruins 12/03/07
Coyotes 12/13/07
Penguins 12/15/07
Buffalo 12/19/07
Capitals 12/22/07
Toronto 12/26/07
Devils 12/29/07
Panthers 01/03/07
Canadiens 01/15/07

Some of my favorites:

Check out the the gallery and let me know which album or photo is your favorite!

From here on out, I will be uploading the game photos either right after the game - or the next afternoon after work.